ALUMNI
GRADS GIVING BACK: ALUMNI CAREER PANELS
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By Bekah Johnson, Advancement & Alumni Relations
The spring 2021 semester kicked off a series of inaugural virtual alumni career panels for high school students. Elizabeth Hill (‘13), LRCA Academic and College Counselor, took a student interest poll earlier in the year and determined the highest-ranking career fields to be healthcare, psychology/counseling, and business. “I have wanted to connect students with alumni in various career fields since I first started working at LRCA five years ago,” said Elizabeth. “I want our students to be exposed to careers so that they can make informed decisions about internships, job shadowing, and college majors. These unscripted panels have led to many encouraging conversations in which students hear not only about career options, but also about how to make decisions and follow God's lead one step at a time.” Questions about a typical day, the most rewarding and challenging parts of the job, and why each alum chose to go into their particular field led to great discussions filled with invaluable advice to students:
BUSINESS:
Ashley Ascher Steele (‘05) Founder and Lead Strategist at Obtain Creative “I think being open to opportunities and not living by a checklist has been an important lesson that I learned on my journey.”
Will Ford (‘12) Group President at Westrock Coffee Company “Life is about who you partner with. Whether that be your spouse, your friends, your business, or your mentors.”
Connor Van Hemert (‘12) Account Executive at Call Box in Dallas, TX “When we choose a career or a job, it’s important to see these opportunities through an eternal perspective. God has a purpose for your life and your work.”
Trent Childress (‘13) Senior Tax Accountant at Little, Shaneyfelt, Marshall & Co. “It’s important to find a place where you feel motivated by the work you’re doing and the people you’re doing it with.”
36 THE WARRIOR • SPRING 2021
